Notebook: Struggling Maryland ground game stays grounded

Maryland entered the day knowing it needed to improve a running game ranked last in the Atlantic Coast Conference. But the Terps were without leading rusher Wes Brown (shoulder).

Maryland started Justus Pickett at tailback and also played Albert Reid.

Pickett caught a 20-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. But Pickett, the primary ball carrier, struggled early. He had 10 carries in the first half for a net of minus-3 yards. Overall, Pickett carried 15 times for a net of minus-8 yards.

The Terps finished the game with minus-2 yards on the ground. Maryland's longest run from scrimmage this season is 21 yards, and its long on Saturday was a 9-yard carry by Pickett.

A running rivalry

Maryland was battling the weight of recent history against Virginia. The Cavaliers had won not only four of the previous five meetings, but 15 of the past 20.

The worst recent loss might have come in 2008. Maryland entered with a three-game winning streak, and Virginia was 1-3 after being outscored 128-36. Virginia won, 31-0.

The series has featured an interesting dynamic. Before 2009, Virginia had lost 15 straight games when falling short of 100 rushing yards.

Overall, the team with the most rushing yards is 57-7 since 1937. Virginia finished with 168 rushing yards Saturday.

Terps fans complain that broadcast started late

Many Maryland fans complained on Twitter that they missed the opening of Saturday's game against Virginia because the Richmond-New Hampshire broadcast ran long on Comcast SportsNet.

The Maryland game began at 3 p.m.. Fans missed a portion of the opening quarter, which included a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown by Stefon Diggs on the first play.

Maryland released a statement attributed to Brian Potter of Comcast SportsNet.

"In order to be fair to all teams and their fans, Comcast SportsNet's policy [which is similar to other sports networks'] is to never leave live coverage of NCAA football if the final result of the game is in question, regardless of the programming scheduled to follow," Potter's statement said.

"It is unfortunate when a game runs longer than expected, but the network feels that it is more important to present the end of each game — as opposed to the beginning of another game — if conflicts arise during busy football Saturdays."